The banned HNLC has termed cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh’s statement calling the outfit to participate in Indian elections as not only misleading but also dismissive of the fundamental issues concerning the sovereignty and rights of the Hynñiewtrep people.
In an open letter to Lyngdoh today, HNLC general secretary Saiñkupar Nongtraw said that the outfit does not just “roar from the jungle” as alleged by her.
“We do not roar from the jungle out of choice but necessity. History has shown that when a people’s voice is silenced and their rights trampled upon, the wilderness becomes a sanctuary for resistance. The HNLC stands as a defender of Hynñiewtrep’s identity and sovereignty, both of which have been systematically eroded through political deceit and historical betrayals,” Nongtraw said.
“By urging us to participate in the Indian elections imposed upon our land, you fail to recognise the very foundation of our struggle — the fight for our sovereignty. These elections are not a reflection of democracy for us but a calculated mechanism to legitimise India’s illegal occupation of our land. You align yourself with the forces that dishonor the Treaty of Hynñiewtrep signed in 1947, betraying the principles it upheld. Your call for participation is nothing more than an attempt to perpetuate colonial control and undermine our rightful fight for self-determination,” he added.
The HNLC leader also rejected Lyngdoh’s allegation that the HNLC was communal and divisive and trying to create a situation like Manipur. “Comparing Hynñiewtrep to Manipur is like comparing night and day. We have our own ancestral land, steeped in history and culture. Archaeological evidence suggests that we represent one of the oldest civilisations in Asia. Yet, we remain stateless, betrayed by successive governments that have dishonored our Syiem and disregarded the sacrifices of ki khun ki hajar u Hynñiewtrep,” he said.
